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In pictures: Destruction and fear as war hits Ukraine

24 February 2022

Russian forces have launched a military assault on neighbouring Ukraine, crossing its borders and bombing military targets near big cities.

In a handout picture from the Ukrainian State Emergency Service, rescuers work at the crash site of a Ukrainian Armed Forces' Antonov aircraft, shot down in the Kyiv region.

Ukrainian State Emergency Service / Reuters Rescuers work at the crash site of a Ukrainian Armed Forces' Antonov aircraft, shot down in the Kyiv region, Ukraine — In a handout picture from the Ukrainian State Emergency Service, rescuers work at the crash site of a Ukrainian Armed Forces' Antonov aircraft, shot down in the Kyiv region.

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A security booth knocked over at the Perekop checkpoint, connecting the Crimean peninsula to the Ukrainian mainland.

TASS / Getty Images A security booth knocked over at the Perekop checkpoint, connecting the Crimean peninsula to the Ukrainian mainland — A security booth knocked over at the Perekop checkpoint, connecting the Crimean peninsula to the Ukrainian mainland.

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Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in the Lugansk region.

AFP Ukrainian servicemen stand on a tank as they get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region. — Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in the Lugansk region.

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A man shows the result of shelling by Russian troops in a residential area in Piatykhatky, Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine.

Getty Images A man shows a bomb-damaged room from shelling by Russian troops in a residential area in Piatykhatky, Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine — A man shows the result of shelling by Russian troops in a residential area in Piatykhatky, Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine.

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Bloodstains are seen on the stairs in a residential building following shelling in Piatykhatky.

Getty Images Bloodstains are seen on the stairs in a residential building following shelling in Piatykhatky, Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine — Bloodstains are seen on the stairs in a residential building following shelling in Piatykhatky.

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Damage caused by shelling in Piatykhatky.

Getty Images A bomb-damaged road caused by Russian troops in a residential area in Piatykhatky, Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine — Damage caused by shelling in Piatykhatky.

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Civilians shelter in a metro station in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in a photo taken by Victoria Vota. "We are trying to stay strong," she said.

Victoria Vota Civilians shelter in a metro station in Kharkiv, Ukraine — Civilians shelter in a metro station in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in a photo taken by Victoria Vota. "We are trying to stay strong," she said.

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Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuhuiv, near the north-eastern city of Kharkiv.

AFP Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuhuiv near Kharkiv on February 24, 2022 — Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuhuiv, near the north-eastern city of Kharkiv.

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A man sits outside a destroyed building in Chuhuiv, following bombings.

AFP A man sits outside his destroyed building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuhuiv on 24 February 2022 — A man sits outside a destroyed building in Chuhuiv, following bombings.

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A rocket is embedded in a road after recent shelling on the outskirts of Kharkiv.

AFP A rocket embedded in a road after recent shelling on the northern outskirts of Kharkiv on 24 February 2022 — A rocket is embedded in a road after recent shelling on the outskirts of Kharkiv.

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People wait in a traffic jam as they attempt to leave the city of Kharkiv.

Reuters People wait in a traffic jam as they leave the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, 24 February 2022 — People wait in a traffic jam as they attempt to leave the city of Kharkiv.

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Elsewhere in the country, another traffic jam forms as people try to leave the capital Kyiv.

Getty Images Inhabitants of Kyiv leave the city following pre-offensive missile strikes of the Russian armed forces and Belarus on 24 February 2022 — Elsewhere in the country, another traffic jam forms as people try to leave the capital Kyiv.

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Crowds attempt to evacuate the capital by bus.

Getty Images People wait for buses at a bus station as they attempt to evacuate the city on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine — Crowds attempt to evacuate the capital by bus.

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Others queue at the border crossing between Ukraine and Poland, in an attempt to flee the country.

Reuters People wait at the Ukrainian side of the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, as seen from Medyka, Poland, 24 February 2022 — Others queue at the border crossing between Ukraine and Poland, in an attempt to flee the country.

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A CCTV image issued by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reportedly shows Russian military vehicles moving across the border from Crimea into Ukraine.

State Border Guard Service of Ukraine / PA Media Handout screengrab taken from CCTV issued by State Border Guard Service of Ukraine of Russian military vehicles moving across the border from Crimea into Ukraine (exact location not given), on 24 February 2022 — A CCTV image issued by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reportedly shows Russian military vehicles moving across the border from Crimea into Ukraine.

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Firefighters try to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv.

AFP Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on 24 February 2022 — Firefighters try to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv.

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The firefighters climbed through wreckage to rescue civilians.

Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Ukrainian firefighters arrive to rescue civilians after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on 24 February 2022 — The firefighters climbed through wreckage to rescue civilians.

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A woman tends to her wounds after the airstrike.

Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A wounded woman is seen after an airstrike damaged an apartment complex in city of Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on 24 February 2022 — A woman tends to her wounds after the airstrike.

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Smoke is seen coming out of a military installation near the airport in the south-eastern city of Mariupol.

Reuters Smoke is seen coming out of a military installation near the airport, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Mariupol, 24 February 2022 — Smoke is seen coming out of a military installation near the airport in the south-eastern city of Mariupol.

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Ukrainian tanks move into Mariupol.

Reuters Ukrainian tanks move into the city in Mariupol, 24 February 2022 — Ukrainian tanks move into Mariupol.

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A handout photo from the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's press service shows the aftermath of an explosion at a military unit building in Kyiv.

EPA / Interior Ministry Press Service A handout photo made available by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry"s press service shows the aftermath of an explosion in the premises of a military unit building in Kyiv, Ukraine, 24 February 2022 — A handout photo from the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's press service shows the aftermath of an explosion at a military unit building in Kyiv.

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Also in Kyiv, police and security personnel inspect the remains of a shell in a street.

AFP Police and security personnel inspect the remains of a shell in a street in Kyiv on 24 February 2022 — Also in Kyiv, police and security personnel inspect the remains of a shell in a street.

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People watch the police and security personnel work from behind a cordoned-off area.

AFP People react standing behind the cordoned off area around the remains of a shell in Kyiv on 24 February 2022 — People watch the police and security personnel work from behind a cordoned-off area.

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Crowds gather at ATMs in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, as people try to withdraw money.

Anadolu Agency via Getty Images People line up to withdraw money from ATMs after Russia's military operation on 24 February 2022, in Kramatorsk — Crowds gather at ATMs in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, as people try to withdraw money.

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A Ukrainian military helicopter flies over a fuel station outside the city of Dnipro.

Reuters Ukrainian military helicopter flies over a gas station, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, outside the city of Dnipro, Ukraine 24 February 2022 — A Ukrainian military helicopter flies over a fuel station outside the city of Dnipro.

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